25o INDIES ADVENTURE

most surprising statement of all was that the men who
really governed India were Albuquerque's two Jewish
interpreters!

Antonio Raposo promised to consider the question and
withdrew. As a result of his cogitations he presented the
interesting paper to the Governor himself. Albuquerque
took it at once to those fidalgos who were stated to have
signed it. He asked them what they knew about the matter,
and found that it was the first that they had ever heard of
it. Gaspar Pereira was a public danger, they declared.

But further and more surprising disclosures were to come.
A certain Antonio Madeira announced that he had seen a
letter written by Diogo Pereira for Antonio Real and sent
home last year. It was filled with accusations of the Governor.
Of what nature? the latter inquired, and Antonio Madeira
told him. The charges were many, but Albuquerque has
summed them up succinctly enough: " He called me a thief
and a Moor and a coward, and a man who did not obey
Your Highnesses commands/'

Diogo Pereira was summoned and invited to confirm
what Antonio Madeira said. Exactly what was in that letter?
The Governor promised that he should not suffer for it if
he told the truth. To look Afonso de Albuquerque in the
face and brazen out a lie required a stronger nerve than
Diogo Pereira possessed. He collapsed at once. He had done
wrong, he wailed. He begged to be forgiven and he would
own up.

It was not an easy confession to make> as anybody who
has read that letter will agree. Quaking visibly, Diogo
Pereira stuttered and became tongue-tied. Albuquerque
observed that it was astonishing Antonio Real should have
found someone ready to go to Hell for him, whereas he could
not find one who wished to go to Heaven for telling the
truth!

" Forgive me!" bleated Diogo Pereira once again.

" I forgive you/' said the Governor, " but tell the truth!"

Diogo Pereira confessed everything. All that Antonio